Retro Racing had around 44,000 downloads in one month. I never knew that kind of success before, and can’t begin to tell you how pleased I was. Making good money, doing something I totally love.

So what went wrong?

I recently migrated my iOS developer account from a personal to a business account. This involved setting up new banking info; and for whatever reason, this transition has not gone smoothly. I now have no contract in place to sell paid iOS apps on the AppStore. Hence, my game is no longer available for download.

When I requested the migration, I wasn’t made aware that this may be an issue. Had I known, I would not have risked it. Why didn’t Apple warn me? If you’re an iOS developer, be warned, and be cautious about making changes to your iOS developer account while your sales are good. I don’t want you making the same mistakes I have!

What are the likely consequences of all this?

Going from between 1,000 and 3,000 sales a day; to 0. It may take several days for the banking issue to resolve itself, and my game to get back on the AppStore. When it’s back, chart position will be low, the game will not be visible, and new people won’t find out about it.

I guess it’s going to be extremely hard to recover from this; but, you never know.

How do I feel?

I guess I feel a mix of emotions right now. A bit gutted, obviously. Upset and concerned over lost sales. Small, vulnerable, isolated; it’s just me on my own here, and I do literally everything and often feel I over stretch myself. I had no co-workers for support (or to bitch and moan to). Also, it all happened at the worse possible time (as I got exposure in The Sun).

I also feel quite philosophical and hopeful.

Also, it has to be said that Apple are a great company. They’ve put the infrastructure together that allows small indie developers like myself, to create the games we want to make, and self-publish on their AppStore. Without Apple, I wouldn’t have had that one month of success in the first place. So, thank you Apple. I hope they can help me resolve this, and get the game back on the AppStore ASAP though!

I’m hopeful the game will recover, and I’ll go on supporting it with updates; and also work on cool new iOS games, for you to enjoy. I’d really like that.

So when can you get Retro Racing?

If you’ve been trying to buy the game, I can only apologize, and hope you’ll try again in a few days, when, fingers crossed, everything will be well with the world again.

UPDATE:

It’s been well over 72 hours now, and still no improvement, and Apple are moving very slow on this. I will announce on twitter and my mailing list (sign-up form on the left of this page) when the game is back on the store. I really really appreciate all the support I’ve been getting from you all. Most encouraging. Thank you.

Retro racer is top quality – some of the best programing I’ve seen. When it comes back I cannot forsee it’s chart position being low for long.

http://twitter.com/pejolaGames Peter

Keep your tail up! As you have seen of your success, you make everything right – so it will get perfect in your future!!

Congratulation for your Retro Racing game!

http://twitter.com/PocketeersLtd Mat Hopwood

Its maddening to hear that something like this could happen. Would be nice if Apple could feature Retro Racing for a day or two by way of an apology.

In addition, I’m sure you can generate some great publicity from the fiasco itself, although I would not release the info to the press until your game is back up.

http://twitter.com/mrqwak Mr Qwak

Thanks Mat.

I can’t see them featuring it for any other reason than it being profitable to them. Also, it could imply liability on their part, if they make any concession. You would think they’d make you aware of the dangers though, when you’re walking in to this mine-field! Feel devestated and let-down. :(

Christopher Brind

Thanks for sharing. This is something I’ve been thinking of doing (need to do really) so this is useful information, thanks.

http://twitter.com/Alex_Amsel Alex Amsel

Am sure the sales will be back when the game is online again :)

http://twitter.com/mrqwak Mr Qwak

Thanks Alex. Everyone keeps saying so, and I really hope you’re all right!! Time will tell…

http://ipsquiggle.myopenid.com/ Ipsquiggle

One part of Apple that really isn’t pleasant is their business registration stuff. We had SO many issues trying to get our initial contract set up with them, and talking with others, similar problems abound. So understand that you are not alone in this; the department that deals with business registrations and contracts is way flakier than any other department we have dealt with.

I say, good luck to you and hope this is resolved soon!

(Also: it pays to be an early adopter for awesome indie games, I suppose. ;) )

Nickatfox

I wish you the best of luck and hope all goes well. My app HOLLYWEIRD ZOMBIES the FIRST and ONLY zombie shooter on the APPSTORE that lets you customize zombies with camera photos and iphone library images and then start blowing them away is coming out THURSDAY the 29th of March and I hope I can get as successful and you have been. Thanks for the warning.

Tom Gibson

Really feel for you mate. Sounds like you need to pester pester pester until something is agreed with apple in the form of getting things back on track.

This doesn’t look good on apple in fact its a disgrace.

http://twitter.com/mrqwak Mr Qwak

Thanks Tom. They don’t do this kind of thing intentionally though; and the developer support guys I’ve spoken to so far, have been very helpful and understanding, and are doing what they can to help resolve the situation. I’m quite hopeful things will work out for the best, and I can get back on track making more awesome games! :)

Dan Owen

Well bloody hell!
Really sorry to hear this Jamie, especially because of how awesomely its been going till now. Yeah, they dont do it on purpose but it wouldnt hurt to pull their fingers out when it does. Would make it seem a bit more like they gave a crap!

I’m sure sales will pick up where they left off once you are back too.
Probably not instantly, but its such a quality product and has a lot of people supporting it (and telling friends etc about it) i’m sure this will all turn out to be just a bump in the road. A completely irritating and galling bump for the moment though!

Amazing game! Great quailty programing, easy, simple and straight to the point gold old fashion entertainment! Love, love, love the game. I hope once it makes it back on the market that you program many many more tracks. I would buy this game again in a heartbeat and recommend it to a million others. Please keep us updated! Vroooooom, screeeech NITRO!!!!!!

http://twitter.com/mrqwak Mr Qwak

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! This post is about a year old now, and the game was re-instated ages ago. More racing game goodness coming soon though!..

Random

It’s a great game. I also
Like that there is a track 19
Left in the game that you can glitch into. Please make
It an actual track in the game, at the moment it just locks up
After a while or the race ends when you go past the line at the start. But it’s just a nice little weird bonus anyway, if you aren’t going to make it a track please just leave the glitch in anyway as its a fun thing to have in there.

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